The Pro Advisor?

Back in 1999, Quickbooks was all the rage. Like I mentioned last week, QuickBooks holds more than 80% of the bookkeeping software market for small to mid-sized businesses. There was a time when I used this, and followed along with my peers as I was just getting going and became a QuickBooks Pro Advisor. I learned much.

Over the years, I have developed reservations about some of the “advisors” and QuickBooks itself. I am no longer a part of the QuickBooks family, mostly because of the IRS. More so because being in bed with Intuit and QuickBooks no longer became a real value to my clients.

A few points of note

The IRS has well over 1,000 QuickBooks licenses (Along with some from Sage-PeachTree), maybe more than 2,000. The IRS has the authority to get an administrator copy of your file. Full access to your books. Now they have to follow rules, but if you think for a minute they are following them…. Haha.

Oh, The people over at QuickBooks saw this as a problem too. So, they created a part of their accountants software to create a “period copy” that only let the IRS have the year they wanted not all 23 you have been in business. And do you really think those folks with Accountants Software would do that for free? I have done a few, it’s time consuming. Nor is it free.

Anyone with the money to buy into the “program” is automatically in the group “Pro Advisor”. Yes, there is a test to take, but let’s be serious, the test is designed for the taker to not fail. Multiple choice questions, that if you do not score your 72% required to advance, they tell you what your mistakes were. Then give you the exact same exam again.

I do not know about you, but how hard could it be to take a test four times, with someone ultimately giving you the answers. 8 years ago, my 12-year-old child was able to take and pass (after only three attempts) the Pro-advisor test. To this day, he still hasn’t ever opened a copy of the software.

The greatest thing about the software is also one of the most bothersome, it’s very user friendly and very easy to use right out of the box. What that means is that anyone with the money can buy the software and call themselves a Bookkeeper.

They don’t have to know a thing about creating and maintaining a set of books. Then they can pay a little bit more to be called a “Pro” “Advisor” ….

I have met a number of the Pro Advisors when I was a part of it all. Former bank tellers, bored house wives, high school drop outs were among the ranks of CPAs and Attorneys who held/hold the title QuickBooks Pro Advisor. What I am saying here is that anyone willing to spend the money can be presented to you as a Professional Advisor, but how are they a true Professional? What allows them the title of advisor? I would like to think more than paying the entree fee and a multiple-choice exam given to them enough times that it is inevitable that one passes.

If you are looking for a bookkeeper, make sure you have found one that isn’t selling you a product because that product has employed them as part of their personal sales team. Please find a service that will sell you a service that fits your bookkeeping plan.